Buying guide
Cessna Grand Caravan for sale: what to check before you buy
Published November 11, 2026.
The Grand Caravan, the Cessna 208B, is the single-engine turboprop for people who need to carry passengers or cargo where a jet cannot go: regional air taxi, cargo, skydiving, special missions. Below is what the official EASA data sheet says about the two versions, what today's listings show, and what to check before an offer.
Grand Caravan or Grand Caravan EX
Both versions are on the same EASA data sheet, IM.A.226, and the difference starts with the serial number and the engine.1
| Version | Serials | EASA certification | Engine | Max. takeoff weight | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208B Grand Caravan | 208B0001 to 208B2196 and 208B2198 to 208B4999 | 1990 | PT6A-114 (600 shp) or PT6A-114A (675 shp) | 8,750 lb | 25,000 ft |
| 208B Grand Caravan EX | 208B2197 and 208B5000 on | 2014 | PT6A-140 (867 shp) | 8,807 lb (8,750 lb with TKS fairing) | 25,000 ft |
According to the official data sheet, both versions require one pilot and fly IFR day and night. The ceiling drops to 20,000 ft in icing conditions, and flight into icing is only allowed on aircraft equipped for it. The first two seats are pilot seats; in the passenger configuration, the data sheet provides seats up to position 11, and some configurations reach 14.1
What today's listings show
On November 11, 2026, a search for "Grand Caravan" on the Controller portal returned 28 listings of the model.2
| Controller, 11/11/2026 | Grand Caravan | Grand Caravan EX |
|---|---|---|
| Listings | 11 | 17 |
| With published price | 1 | 8 |
| Asking price | US$1.89M | US$1.55 to 3.95M* |
| Total hours (median) | 14,800 | 1,800 |
* Excluding a 2013 EX with 15,275 hours listed at US$390,000, far below the others. A price so far off the curve needs an explanation before any conversation: it could be a share, a damaged aircraft or a typo. The list includes EX amphibians and a factory-new EX with 1 hour. Asking price is not selling price.
What to check on any Grand Caravan
- The serial confirms the version. According to the official data sheet, the EX starts at serial 208B5000, with the exception of 208B2197.1 An "EX" with a lower serial needs an explanation. The routine for checking serial, registration and owner is in this post.
- Engine and power. The 208B may have the PT6A-114 or the PT6A-114A, with different power ratings.1 Check which one is installed, the hours since the last overhaul and since the last hot section inspection, and whether it is on a maintenance programme.
- Hours and cycles. The median of the non-EX Grand Caravans for sale is over 14,000 hours. On a cargo or skydiving aircraft, cycles, that is takeoffs and landings, can weigh as much as hours. Ask for both.
- Ice protection equipment. Whether the aircraft has the equipment for flight into icing and whether it works, since the data sheet only allows that flight on an equipped aircraft.1
- Previous use and modifications. This part is our reading. A skydiving Caravan usually has a modified door and seats; an amphibian goes through water, sometimes salt water; a cargo aircraft may have a cargo pod under the fuselage. Each use calls for a pre-purchase inspection with a different focus.
- Airworthiness directives. Check the FAA and EASA directives for the model, engine and propeller, and compliance in the records.3
The Grand Caravans we have for sale
- Grand Caravan EX: 901 hours, PT6A-140 engine, Garmin G1000 NXi panel, cabin for 2 crew and 8 passengers, with skydive kit included.
- Grand Caravan 208B: 1,644 hours, PT6A-114A engine, Garmin G1000 with GFC 700 autopilot, weather radar and a cabin for 2 crew and 9 passengers.
Both have hours well below the market median for their version. Full details are on each page.
Sources
- EASA, type certificate data sheet IM.A.226, Cessna 208 (Caravan), issue 15, Sept. 18, 2025: easa.europa.eu
- Controller, search for "Grand Caravan", accessed Nov. 11, 2026: controller.com
- FAA, Dynamic Regulatory System (airworthiness directives): drs.faa.gov